Biography of ‘Bhim Rao Ambedkar’
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14th April 1891-6th Dec. 1956), popularly known as Baba Saheb, was an Indian jurist, politician, philosopher, anthropologist, historian and economist. A revivalist for Buddhism in India, he inspired the Modernist Buddhist Movement in Maharashtra which is spreading all across India is also called Dalit Buddhist movement. As independent India’s first law minister, he was principal architect of Constitution of India. Barack Obama, president of the USA, referred to Dr. Ambedkar as the founding father of modern India during his address speech in Indian Parliament. Born into a poor Mahar (were considered so-called untouchable caste) family, Ambedkar campaigned against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna-the categorisation of Hindu society into four varnas and the Hindu caste system. He converted to Buddhism and is also credited with providing a spark for the transformation of hundreds of thousands of Dalits or untouchables to Theravada Buddhism. Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1990.
Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first Dalits (untouchables) to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning a law degree and doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar gained a reputation as a scholar and practised law for a few years, later campaigning by publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India’s untouchables.
In 1907, he passed his matriculation examination and in the following year he entered Elphinstone College, which was affiliated to the University of Bombay, becoming the first from his untouchable community to do so. This success provoked celebrations in his community and after a public ceremony he was presented with a biography of the Buddha by Dada Keluskar, the author and a family friend. By 1912, he obtained his degree in economics and political science from Bombay University, and prepared to take up employment with the Baroda state government. His wife, by then 15 years had just moved his young family and started work, when he dashed back to Mumbai to see his ailing father, who died on 2 February 1913. Upon India’s independence on 15 August 1947, the new Congress led government invited Ambedkar to serve as the nation’s first law minister, which he accepted. On 29 August, Ambedkar was appointed Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, charged by the Assembly to write India’s new Constitution. The constitution was adopted on 26th Nov. 1949 by the constituent Assembly.
